Multi position manual latching switch for indicating last entry



Sept. 6, 1966 N. B. WALES, JR 3,271,757

MULTIPOSITION MANUAL LATCHING SWITCH FOR INDICATING LAST ENTRY Filed Sept. 24, 1965 I'LL 773/ I 1 AJWI 1 Mme INVENTOR mauml/ United States Patent 3,271,757 MULTI POSITION MANUAL LATCHING SWITCH FOR INDICATING LAST ENTRY Nathaniel B. Wales, Jr., 66 E. 80th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Sept. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 489,979 2 Claims. (Cl. 340-332) This invention relates to an array of electrical manually operated latching push button switches which have the property of distributing current from a first source to the last of an arbitrary sequence of buttons pushed, while distributing current from a second source to all others of the sequence previously pushed.

One application for which such a sequential switch has utility is in a light bulb display board for games of chance such as Bingo in which it is desirable to identify to the players which was the last number posted, by causing the last light to be lit to flash intermittently, or to have a distinctive difference in brightness from all of the previously lighted display bulbs. Reset means are provided to unlatch the entire array of push buttons to prepare for a new latching sequence.

The present invention achieves great simplicity and reliability over the complex and expensive multiple relay circuitry previously required to perform this sequence logic, by providing a common multi-apertured displace- -able latching plate which serves both as a mechanical latch for the last push button pushed, and as an electrical distribution buss for the last entry identifying current source.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an arrayed push button switch design which will by simple and reliable means remember which push button of an arbitrary sequence of switch actuations was made last, and which will, by switching means, uniquely identify this last entry actuation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch array design which employs mechanical logic to cause the last actuated switch to be latched in a unique position relative to the previously actuated switches.

For other objects and a clearer understanding of the construction and operation of the preferred embodiment of this invention, reference is made to the following detailed specification, to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying sole drawing which is -a schematic mechanical and electrical diagram of this preferred embodiment of the subject push button switch array, showing in elevational section a representative three button array, each button being shown in one of the three possible latching positions for such a switch.

It is understood that for Bingo application such an array would comprise an array preferably having fifteen columns each having five rows of such push buttons.

Referring to the diagram, numeral 1 is an outer case made of an insulating plastic and provided with an array of, preferably round, apertures for a corresponding array of plastic insulating push buttons or switch operators 2, 2 and 2" protruding therethrough. Each push button 2 is frictionally secured to a flat stamped conductive key member 3, 3', or 3", respectively, made from a metal such as silver plated brass. Each key 2 is provided with a first latching cam surface 4, a second latching cam surface 5, an overthrow cam surface 6, and a latching notch 7.

Keys 3 pass through, and are aligned by corresponding rectangular slots in a plastic insulating chassis plate 8 which is secured to housing 1.

Each key 3, 3', 3" is biassed towards an upmost position by a conductive preferably phospher bronze compression spring 9, 9', or 9" respectively, which presses between the cam proturberances 4 on keys 3 and a pierced terminal lug 10 which rests on chassis plate 8, thereby maintaining good electrical connection between keys 3 and keys 10. Each key 3 is provided with a flat conductive metal cantilever latch spring finger 11 which is secured to chassis plate 8 by rivetting and whose upper latching catch finger lies in the trajectory of cam surface 4. Since all the latch fingers 11 are electrically common to a ground bus 23, they may be constructed in comb form for an array having many columns or rows, as long as each latching tine is mechanically independent in action.

An insulating plastic apert-ured reset plate 12 forms a stop for each latch finger 11, and is mounted for horizontal reset displacement by the two parallelogram cantilever spring fingers 13 which are secured by rivetting at one end to reset plate 12 and at the other end to an insulating base plate 14, which in turn is secured to casing 1.

A reset push button 15 is also secured to reset plate 12, and, by protruding through an aperture in the side of casing 1, permits the simultaneous unlatching of all fingers 11 which may be engaged with keys 3, by the rightward actuation of button 15.

A second latching means for keys 3 is provided by the conductive metal latching plate 16 which has a rectangular aperture 17, 17', or 17" corresponding to each key 3, 3, or 3" respectively. Latch plate 16 is mounted for horizontal spring biassed displacement relative to base 14 by the two parallelogram type cantilever spn'ng fingers 18 which are integral with reset plate fingers 13. An extension 19 of plate 17 bears on one leaf 13 near its attachment to reset plate 12 and near reset button 15 so that although latch plate 16 is free to be independently cammed rightward by key cam surfaces 5, the actuation of reset button 15, acting through rigid extension finger 19, will simultaneously reset both plates 12 and 16 to the right against the leftward spring bias of fingers 13 and 18, respectively.

The auxiliary electrical equipment associated with the push button array 2 includes three incandescent lamps 20, 20', and 20" having a common lead 21 connected to one side of battery 22, and having their other terminal connected to lugs 10, 10 and 10", respectively.

The other side of battery 22 may be connected to a common ground bus 23 by closure of a switch S1, which closure will also energize a small motor 24, which thereby will intermittently open and close a flashing switch S2 through a cam 25 and cam follower roller 26. Switch S2 thus energizes latch plate 16 in a pulsating mode.

The operation of the subject sequencing switch is as follows:

In the reset position all keys 3, 3', and 3" are in the upmost position of key 3, in which the corresponding lamp 20 is unenergized since key 3 is contacting neither latch finger 11, nor latch plate 16.

When a button, such as shown for 2", is fully depressed, the lower cam surface 5" enters aperture 17" of latch plate 16 and cams it rightward, thereby releasing any previously depressed key 3 which had been latched thereby. The steep overthrow cam surface 6" on key 3 is provided to ameliorate the mechanical tolerance requirements of the system, since plate 16 need only be cammed to the right until the lip of aperture 17" in plate 16 begins to bear on cam surface 6", at which point the steepness of surface 6" is enough to complete the disengagemen-t of plate 17 from latching key 3" without further help from whatever other key started the unlatching process.

However, in order to depress a button from position 2 to position 2" it is necessary for cam surface 4 to first contact and then displace rightward the corresponding latch finger 11 until it passes the latch part of finger 11,

and allows it to snap back over the top of cam 4 as shown in button position 2. Continued depression of the button then disengages contact between key 3 and latch finger 11' and continues downward until key 3" reaches the position shown for button 2".

For this reason, any key such as 3", latched by plate 16, when released by the depression of a new key 3 will pop upward until stopped and contacted by latch finger 11' as shown in middle button position 2', while the new last actuated button assumes the latched position of button 2".

Evidently, the last actuated button will cause its corresponding lamp 20 to flash under control of switch S2, while all the previously actuated buttons will assume the intermediate latched position of 2 thereby steadily energizing the corresponding lamps 20' through fingers 11' and ground bus 23.

At the conclusion of the'g-ame, actuation of reset button 15 will restore all buttons to condition 2.

It is to be noted that the attachment of a bell crank handle to each switch operator 2, would convert the device to a toggle-type switch array. Also, the shorting of S2 and the addition of a resistor between each finger 11 and ground would provide an intensity differentiator to distinguish the last actuated button from the prior ones.

The scope of the invention within which obvious varia- ,-tions will-occur to those skilled in the art, is defined in the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple position last entry indicating latching switch structure comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of switch operator members each moveably secured to said frame, and each being manually moveable to three sequential positions, namely off, on one, and on two in that sequential order;

spring means for each said switch operator members urging it into said oil position from either said on one or on two position by supplying a force between said frame and said operator;

a first latch means for each said operator secured to said frame and adapted to latch said operator in said on one position;

a second latch means for each said operator secured to said frame, and adapted to latch said operator in said on two position;

a first electric switch for each said operator secured to said frame, and adapted for actuation by the positioning of its said switch operator member in its said on one position;

a second electric switch for each said operator secured to said frame, and adapted for operation by the positioning of its said switch operator member in its on two position;

cam means mounted on and moveab-le withrespect to said frame responsive to the positionment of any said operator to said on two position to unlatch any other said operator previously positioned in said on two position, whereby to return said previously positioned operator by said spring means to said on one position; and

a reset actuator moveable with respect to said frame to disengage all said first and second latching means, whereby to return all said switch operators to the said off position under the urging of said spring means.

2. The combination with a device according to claim 1 comprising:

a current supply having a first and second terminals;

an array of lamps each having a first and second terminals and having a one to one correspondence with said switch operating members;

first circuit means to connect said first terminal of said current supply to each of said first lamp terminals;

each said first and second electric switch being a single pole normally open switch having a first and second terminals;

a plurality of second circuit means to individually connect together said second terminal of each said lamp to the said first terminals of each of said first and second switches;

a third single pole single throw switch having a first and second terminals;

means to intermittently open and close said third switch;

third circuit means to connect together said second terminal of said current supply with all the'said second terminals of said first switches;

fourth circuit means to connect the said second terminals of all of said second switches to said first terminal of said third switch; and

fifth circuit means to connect said second terminal of said third switch to said second terminal of said current supply.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,027,441 3/1962 Mullen et al 200-l67 3,215,806 11/1965 Arnold et'al 200167 FOREIGN PATENTS 522,735 6/1940 Great Britain.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

J. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examt'ner. 

1. A MULTIPLE POSITION LAST ENTRY INDICATING LATCHING SWITCH STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A FRAME; A PLURALITY OF SWITCH OPERATOR MEMBERS EACH MOVEABLY SECURED TO SAID FRAME, AND EACH BEING MANUALLY MOVEABLE TO THREE SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS, NAMELY "OFF," "ON ONE," AND "ON TWO" IN THAT SEQUENTIAL ORDER; SPRING MEANS FOR EACH SAID SWITCH OPERATOR MEMBERS URGNG IT INTO SAID "OFF" POSITION FROM EITHER SAID "ON ONE" OR "ON TWO" POSITION BY SUPPLYING A FORCE BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND SAID OPERATOR; A FIRST LATCH MEANS FOR EACH SAID OPERATOR SECURED TO SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO LATCH SAID OPERATOR IN SAID "ON ONE" POSITION; A SECOND LATCH MEANS FOR EACH SAID OPERATOR SECURED TO SAID FRAME, AND ADAPTED TO LATCH SAID OPERATOR IN SAID "ON TWO" POSITION; A FIRST ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR EACH SAID OPERATOR SECURED TO SAID FRAME, AND ADAPTED FOR ACTUATION BY THE POSITIONING OF ITS SAID SWITCH OPERATOR MEMBER IN ITS SAID "ON ONE" POSITION; A SECOND ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR EACH SAID OPERATOR SECURED TO SAID FRAME, AND ADAPTED FOR OPERATION BY THE POSITIONING OF ITS SAID SWITCH OPERATOR MEMBER IN ITS "ON TWO" POSITION; CAM MEANS MOUNTED ON AND MOVEABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME RESPONDSIVE TO THE POSITIONMENT OF ANY SAID OPERATOR TO SAID "ON TWO" POSITION TO UNLATCH ANY OTHER SAID OPERATOR PREVIOUSLY POSITIONED IN SAID "ON TWO" POSITION, WHEREBY TO RETURN SAID PREVIOUSLY POSITIONED OPERATOR BY SAID SPRING MEANS TO SAID "ON ONE" POSITION; AND A RESET ACTUATOR MOVEABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME TO DISENGAGE ALL SAID FIRST AND SECOND LATCHING MEANS, WHEREBY TO RETURN ALL SAID SWITCH OPERATORS TO THE SAID "OFF" POSITION UNDER THE URGING OF SAID SPRING MEANS. 